The Maritime Pastoral Training Foundation, Ltd. was founded as a non-profit charity in February 2018. The Internal Revenue Service confirmed MPTF's 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status on March 18, 2018. March 27, 2020, MPTF purchased Sacramento's Vietnam War gunboat, PTF-26, intending to build on its impressive 20 year record as operational museum ship and Sea Scout training vessel with an award-winning all-female crew. PTF-26 is relocating to Paducah, KY to create shipboard opportunities for youth in America's Heartland previously unavailable. PTF-26 will also be Kentucky's 1st historic naval ship museum. Crewed and maintained by selected NJROTC cadets from Paducah Tilghman High School, PTF-26 will eventually serve as a floating classroom/laboratory for Paducah Innovation Hub in its marine technology curriculum.